The crisp air, the jewel-toned trees and a bounty of pumpkins can mean only one thing ? fall is here and the holidays are right around the corner. Midwest Dairy Association thanks our 9,100 farm families across the Midwest who work 365 days a year to provide a fresh, local and nutritious product. We also thank YOU for supporting farmers by cooking with and enjoying milk, cheese and yogurt. Cheers to a happy holiday season!

Midwest Dairy wants to help you get a jumpstart on your holiday planning. Our new Gift of Dairy Pinterest board organizes our favorite dairy holiday recipes, entertaining tips and gift ideas. Pick your favorite ideas to enter to win a $250 grocery gift card!

Enter now

With 70 prize-winning Brown Swiss cows, dairy farmers Lloyd and Jane Gunter have their hands full. But, each fall, they add to their  work load, operating a pumpkin patch and corn maze. Read about the unique ways the Gunter family ensures visitors leave the maze and pumpkin patch with more than just pumpkins.

Learn now

From pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin bread, the fall cooking season is all about pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin. Before you whip up your next  dish, learn how dairy enhances the flavor profile of your favorite pumpkin recipes.

Find out how

200 W. 3rd Street Davenport, IA 52801 Wednesday, November 13th at 5:00pm

5:00 p.m. Anne Spoden - Innovation & Talent Coordinator, Quad Cities Chamber Opening Remarks. Anne to Introduce Kyle Carter

Kyle Carter - Executive Director, Downtown Davenport Partnership. Kyle to Introduce Billy Collins

Billy Collins, Owner of Me and Billy

Ribbon Cutting

What kind of man did you think you would be as a boy? Are you that man, or are you even the guy you'd like to be?

Marshall Chamberlain, a man who has experienced life as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, businessman, husband, father, world traveler, boat dweller, writer and all-around adventurer says it might be time for you to step outside of your comfort zone and become one of the few and proud above-average men.
"It's easy to slip into a lifestyle that you don't want," says Chamberlain, a man who prefers goal-oriented pursuits, such as survival classes and building things, over mundane routine. He's also the author of "The Mountain Place of Knowledge," the first book in the Ancestor Series of adventure-thrillers (www.marshallchamberlain.com).

"Over time, the decisions you make accumulate and lead to a place you may not have expected. In some ways, males in our society have lost the art of being free men, so I want to encourage them to make a conscious decision about who they want to be and rigorously pursue that goal."
Chamberlain outlines the path to being an above-average man.

· Be honest with yourself. There's always room for improvement, whether we're talking about average men or above-average men. It may not be easy, but be honest about your weaknesses - really honest. For example, are you where you want to be in terms of physical fitness? How do you feel when you see yourself in the mirror? Being in shape is its own reward, but it also serves just about every other aspect of an above-average man's life, requiring discipline, determination and good judgment. What's on the outside is a dead giveaway to what's inside. Are you fulfilled in your job? Are your relationships unconditional? Do you really have friends?

· Embrace transformation. The journey to becoming an above-average man will be a rocky road; but it will be well worth it with results you can be proud of. It will require change. We are creatures of habit - but would you rather be like a domesticated house pet with a set feeding schedule or a free man who looks forward to life's challenges and opportunities to grow wise? Challenge yourself and you'll find talents and strength you didn't know you had.

· Measure yourself. You can't know if you're improving unless you establish baselines. Fitness is easily measured; review what you're buying at the grocery store right now, and measure your waistline. How many push-ups or pull-ups can you do now, and how many will you be doing in six months? Measure creative and intellectual pursuits. For example, if you're learning a new language notice the improvement in conversation from week to week. Try reading articles in the new language; if you can't understand them at first, try again a month later. If you want to be a good person, understand and practice the characteristics of impeccability.

· Be hungry for life. It's easy and safe to retreat into things that we already know and do. New ideas and activities challenge your brain and body. Think about the assumptions you have about life, and seek out ideas that contradict them. Deeply consider the merits of both, and think about what makes sense after doing so. Consider getting out of the house for a weekend - that could mean something as extreme as a Stone Age survival course, or something more intermediate, like a camping trip. Maybe it's time to experience a new culture in another country. Life is too fascinating to be lulled into a complacent existence.

About Marshall Chamberlain

Marshall Chamberlain is a man focused on his passions, with no time for pets, lawns, plants, puttering around or companion compromises. He has a Master's Degree in Resource Development from Michigan State University and a graduate degree in International Management from the Thunderbird School near Phoenix, Ariz. He was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent many years in investment banking, venture capital and even a stint as a professional waiter. He is obsessed with preparedness, survival and independence. This combination of traits and an unconditional openness to life lead him to all manner of adventure. Chamberlain's primary worldview is simple but profound?"I'm in awe of the magnificence of this world."

DAVENPORT, IA–Celebrate America Recycles Day with us! There are two ways to join the fun.

On Friday, Nov. 15, Waste Commission of Scott County and iLivehere (a Keep America Beautiful affiliate), will host a free tour of the Scott Area Recycling Center at 1 p.m. The one-hour tour is open to everyone, and space is limited. Sign up online at www.wastecom.com.

Can`t make the tour? Stop by one of our recycling drop-off locations and enjoy a free treat! From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 15, you can get all your recycling questions answered and warm up with a complimentary cup of hot chocolate at 5640 Carey Ave. or 202 S. Marquette St., Davenport, or at the recycling drop-offs at West Lake Park (gate 2) or Scott County Park (1/2 mile east of main entrance). For a map of these locations, visit www.wastecom.com.

On America Recycles Day, Keep America Beautiful affiliates across the U.S. host activities to educate people about recycling. Details are online at www.americarecyclesday.org. For more information about iLivehere, visit www.ilivehereqc.org.

Waste Commission of Scott County is an intergovernmental agency whose mission is to provide environmentally sound and economically feasible solid waste management for Scott County. For more information about the Commission, please call (563) 381-1300 or visit www.wastecom.com.